Chapter Text
Ahh, nothing like a nice long morning stroll through Skyworld before the day gets started. Pit smiled contently as a cool breeze wisped through his white feathers and strands of brown hair. This is nice.
The young angel continued onward and wandered near the edge of Skyworld, eyeing the surface down below. The darkness receded as the early light of the sun stretched over the surface. It was a beautiful thing to watch, and Pit found himself settling down on the edge of the land, gazing in wonder. Despite wanting to sleep in today, it was one of those days when you suddenly wake up early and get to really experience the morning hours for him. He could also feel in his gut.. something was about to happen.
Maybe Palutena would send him on a mission today..
Another confrontation with the Forces of Nature seemed inevitable, given what Viridi had said right after the battle with Hades was over. They were definitely on better terms now, but she seemed pretty adamant in finding a way to confront the issue of humans destroying nature. He hoped it wasn't through violence and genocide again.
...hopefully his gut feeling was just telling him that there'd be a pretty sunrise today. He took a deep breath of crisp air, admiring the view.
"Hey."
The air got caught in his throat and he wheezed, turning around in alarm. He nearly fell off the edge when he stood and saw his dark doppelgänger standing there before him. "P-Pittoo?! What are you doing here??"
Red eyes narrowed upon hearing that dumb nickname, and if looks could kill, Dark Pit would've accidently killed them both. Their connection reached out in strange ways, and today.. Apparently he should have realized his twin was coming over.
"I asked Viridi to warp me here." Dark Pit pointed over his shoulder to gesture where he appeared. Some leaves were left behind a couple of feet away. "Came to talk to you, but couldn't resist sneaking up on you when I saw you had your back turned." He smirked, amused with Pit's reaction.
Pit crossed his arms and pouted, "Very funny.. I coulda fell off Skyworld, you know!"
"I was almost hoping you would."
"Almost, or were? " Pit interrogated. Dark Pit looked like a smug cat with a knife being held to it.
"You woulda just asked your goddess for the power of flight anyways." He stepped closer to the edge and patted the ground next to him. Pit held his response for a moment, thinking that was strange. He sat down next to his twin, and the dark winged angel immediately spaced himself away from him by two feet. He narrowed his eyes again, offended he hadn't thought to sit a bit further away.
"Sorry.." Pit understood that.. although brothers, they weren't.. close. "Anyway, wouldn't you call your goddess, if you fell? Since you're working for Viridi and all that.."
"You literally did not just call Viridi 'my goddess'. I will actually stab you if you say that again. I told you, I work for her because she can give me the power of flight-"
"And you want to kick my butt. You made that clear already.."
"Yeah, but listen, Pit. I have better reasons for why I do things than what you might assume. That's why I'm here. I want you to understand me, and I want you to understand you. "
"..what?" Pit raised his brow, confused. He wasn't sure how to take that, until Dark Pit continued on speaking.
"I don't stand for Viridi's disregard of the balance of this world, just because I work for her, doesn't mean I've aligned myself to her thoughts on humanity. I want to make that clear out the gate. Her way of handling things by waging wars on humans is stupid. There are other ways to deal with the issues she sees, and one of my goals while living in her domain is to get her to stop thinking her ways are the only ways."
Pit was thoroughly surprised by this confession. "That's.. really noble, actually. But I don't think it'll be easy to convince her. I tried reasoning, and she didn't-"
"You spoke from your heart, but you barely tried ." Dark Pit interrupted, and Pit was taken aback by those words. Barely tried ..? His twin continued, "I'm trying to prove something, make my voice heard, with demonstration. I've managed to convince Viridi to give me a chance to find other ways of handling things, it'll keep her from waging war for a while, if I can help it. You have good thoughts, Pit, but sometimes you have to rip someone a new one and pry into their values. What makes you think you don't have the right to speak your mind?"
"It's.." Pit cringed, sighing defeatedly. "What makes you think that your mouthiness isn't gonna come back to bite you one day? We deal with gods and goddesses, Pittoo. Sometimes it's in my best interest that I just keep my thoughts to myself. I'm just an angel, and no one wants to listen to me anyways… that's why."
"I am living proof you can go further with your arguments and show how you really feel sometimes. I don't fear repercussions, you shouldn't either. You're an angel, but one that took down Hades, Medusa, Thanatos, you name em'! They should fear you! If anyone's got the right to share how they really think, it's you. So stop holding back."
Pit's expression fell somber. He really wished it was that easy. "Maybe one day I'll be brave enough. But right now, despite everything.. others just can't see me and seem to take me seriously. I'd have to.. stop being me , for them to listen."
Dark Pit knew exactly what he meant, and he didn't like it one bit. As annoying as Pit was, he had to change for himself, not change for others. "I really doubt the most just and smart people in the world weren't a bit quirky or blunt at times. You can be both smart and weird, and grow out of naiveté."
"You.. how come you seem wiser today..?"
"Like I said, I'm trying to get you to understand me.. and by extension, you. You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for."
"You think so?" Pit looked at his brother with wide, hopeful eyes and Dark Pit almost regretted saying it. Almost.
"Yes. But don't get an ego because of it, do something useful with it.. find a way to change up your life a bit. If I have to defeat you and Palutena for you to surrender to change, I'll kick both your butts."
Pit's brow furrowed into a scowl, and his wings bristled. "Now what makes you think that'll change anything? If we were defeated, I'd still serve to protect Lady Palutena, and even more fiercely! And don't you even dare think of hurting her. I think we've established what I'm capable of when someone harms those I'm sworn to protect."
Dark Pit analyzed everything in that response, from his bristled wings, narrowed eyes, and fierce scowl, to the dark implications of his words. "Relax. I don't really have much against Palutena besides the fact that she strings you along like a puppet. And that's more of a you problem, you let her. I just.. I'm looking for a way to get through to you. Defeat is a disheartening thing to face, a time when people are most vulnerable. Something about you could change, and I'm curious to see what would really happen. But , since you make it sound so risky, here's the other option: we just continue to talk. And I verbally beat you down to your core."
"It's not gonna work. And watch your tongue when speaking about my faith in Palutena. You don't know me."
"But do you really know yourself, Pit? You already admitted that you want to really be listened to one day. I call that progress."
Pit was starting to regret sharing that, and mostly because.. it stung. To be so full of thoughts and not be able to feel like he could share them.. it was a suffocating feeling. One could drown in their own anger, and then the deeper sadness, when they inevitably gave in to keeping silent. He didn't like that Dark Pit was prodding him now. Those feelings were unshakable…. right?
"So? Not like you're gonna make any more progress than that." Pit huffed, half-feigning annoyance to hide his troubled soul. Ruby irises seemed to see right through him.
"Uh, huh.." Dark Pit looked for another thing to prod at. Pit put that subject on lockdown, and he'd try again when it was reopened. "So what do you have time for now-a-days? You must have a lot of freetime now that you've saved the world."
"I really only have a bit of time to lounge in the hot springs or play video games sometimes. I train, go on patrols with the centurions, do a lot of chores around Skyworld, go on occasional missions, and other times.. I just exercise. So I can keep up with what she asks of me. Which, I'm perfectly happy doing! You really don't understand.. purpose is fulfilling. Serving her gives my life meaning. "
"Your purpose can solely be to enjoy life. It doesn't have to be one thing. Serving her makes you happy.. but you long for other things too."
"I don't need those things, if this service is the thing I value most ."
" Really , now?" Dark Pit raised his brow, smirking, "Arlon's teaching me how to read, and I've found out I really like rock-climbing and repelling. It's.. pretty thrilling. You should come over and I'll show you how."
"Don't have the time, remember..? I don't really want to bother Palutena with how long it might take me to learn how to read.. I'll learn eventually, somehow. And what's appealing about rock-climbing?? What if your wings get caught in the ropes and you fall to your death??"
"I don't use ropes for rock-climbing." Dark Pit grinned, and Pit's eyes widened .
"You have someone to spot you, right??"
"Nope, when I fall, I ask Viridi to activate the power of flight. One of these days, she'll just give it to me permanently, at this rate."
"That's.. you're insane . And where'd you even get the idea to do that? That doesn't sound like something I'd do outside of for a mission.."
"I'm not trying to be like you. I'm trying to make this life my own, and enjoy living it. Purposes don't need to be grandiose, puppet."
"Stop calling me a puppet!"
"Whatever, it's just what you feel you are."
Stop it right now. Pit felt a tug at his chest. His mind was pulled viscerally into a collection of memories that made his stomach churn when thinking about them negatively. He remembered the times when Palutena would control his flight path or practically hold his hand through missions. Sometimes, he could really just handle things on his own and not have to be told every little thing. But she's just trying to make things easier for me.. I already had so much on my plate at the time, that it just makes sense that she'd try so hard to help in any way. She cares for me. If I grow up and say I can handle more now.. she'll stop. But right now, I appreciate the effort. I'm no puppet, she's not trying to control me.. she's trying to help.
Sometimes, that wasn't what it felt like, however. It just.. felt like he was taken for granted, being flung around, simply because of his devotion to serve her. He was a competent soldier that would do almost anything for her. That's all he was good for, that was his worth...
However, the Chaos Kin knew that he wouldn't kill innocent humans by his own regard, even if Palutena - even if the REAL Palutena, ordered him to. He wasn't blindly loyal, he aligned himself with good. Pit thought on that for a moment. Was it better that most people assumed he was blindly loyal, so they didn't question his faith, or was it better for them to know his allegiance lies with what his heart tells him is right? That serving Palutena is his way of showing that? It was all so confusing..
But he once again, brushed it all aside. Lady Palutena doesn't take him for granted, and these thoughts were nothing but... feelings.
The thing was, that he wasn't a puppet, but he let himself be strung like one sometimes. It's how he felt. Dark Pit could see it, he sensed it, down to his very core.
"What do you want to do, Pit? Throw a little initiative into your life, if you claim you're not a puppet. Grow up and find some things you enjoy doing, other than serving."
"What if all those things involve leaving..? I can't do that.."
Dark Pit almost suggested he go for what he had just said, but held it back for now. "Start small. Do some soul searching. You have all the time in the world to find out more about yourself."
Pit hated to admit it to him, but.. he really did think fondly of that idea. Maybe Palutena would understand that he wanted a bit more free time.. maybe she was even expecting it. I dedicate every day of my life to her. It's nothing less than what she deserves, and it makes me happy, but.. I.. sometimes I want a bit more in life. Sometimes it's all just too routine. And I know Palutena, she cares for me. I care for her. We understand each other, and that'll never change. What am I so worried about?
Was he the only one not ready for things to change..?
"Maybe you're right about that, at least. I'll never stop serving Palutena, but I have been throwing aside my own wishes sometimes. That's probably not the best for my mental health, is it?"
"Nope, sometimes you have to treat yourself and work to build the life you desire. As long as it do it your way, not mine. Don't copy me or I'll kick you in the gut again. I already have enough of a problem with you looking like me."
Pit laughed, "I don't think I could ever be like you, Pittoo. I won't just start acting the way you do just because I want a bit more freetime or.. other things I can't have, that'd be egotistical, like you said. Who's to say what you want me to change about myself will even be a problem in the future? Maybe serving Palutena, with a bit more regard to my own wishes, really is all I need in life."
Dark Pit doubted that, but he at least got through a bit. If he continued to chip away at all his insecurities, eventually, he would no longer be a representation of them. Both of them could have their own ideal lives. A mutually beneficial exchange. "You'll find your own way to deal with things, in due time. Glad to see you're someone that can be reasoned with."
"I'm.. glad to see you're someone that, in a weird way, cares for others' best interests and the state of the world. I don't really agree with most of what you've said about me, but you think it'll make me happier. I appreciate that you've given me the choice of talking about it, because more violence would just make me mad. Can it.. can we keep it this way, Pittoo? You stop Viridi by doing whatever you're doing, and I get to try to change a few things about my schedule? It'd be so much better than more fighting."
Dark Pit nodded. "That's fine, as long as you agree to spar with me every so often. You have a very punchable face."
"We're identical??"
"Exactly. But you make it look stupid, and I have better eyeliner." He got up now, presumably getting ready to leave.
Pit got up too. "Yeah, but I'm more handsome and adorable , you're just edgy." He shot back with a charismatic charm to his smile.
"You're really starting to shoot for getting clocked upside the head, aren't you?"
Pit stretched his arms over his head and cracked his knuckles. "Although I appreciate what you're trying to do, that doesn't make it any less annoying. You wanna spar? You've got one."
Dark Pit smiled, and after speaking some unheard telepathic words, his wings alit with the power of flight. "Let's go." He took off.
"Lady Palutena, grant me the power of flight!"
Pit's wings chimed with the power and he took off after his annoying younger twin. For five minutes, they bantered, fought, and laughed, sparring airborne, until one was kicked down by the other near the end of their flights.
"Give up?" Dark Pit glared down at Pit, who struggled now under his foot.
"Never!"
They continued to fight, until Pit eventually beat him. A purple staff clattered to the ground, and Pit went and picked it up for his brother, who was still catching his breath.
"Here you go." Pit smiled, handing the strange weapon back to its wielder. It gave off a strange energy, matching Dark Pit's presence.
The dark angel quickly swiped it back and stashed it away, then stood. "It was a tie, since you lost the air battle first. We'll have to settle this another day."
"Alright, but I hope you're coming prepared to lose for real next time!"
"In your dreams, Pit Stain." Dark Pit flapped his wings proudly, then walked away and saluted goodbye. "See ya!"
Leaves and dark feathers drifted to the ground as he was warped away.
Pit took a deep breath, reflecting upon his morning..
What a weird way to start the day off.. Apparently now we're on even better terms than we were before. I think..
And he had even been convinced that he should make more time in his schedule for more freetime.
Strange. He woke up with a feeling something would happen today, so Dark Pit came.
And Dark Pit brought… change .